1. How did the debt cycle favor farmers in Texas?

2. Railroads in Texas I. Problems with Transportation 1.Transportation was very limited 2. Rivers could only support shipping about 50 miles inland 3. Everything else was shipped by way of ox and cart

3. Railroads in Texas II. Railroads to the Rescue! 1.TX gov’t allowed railroad companies to begin building track in the state! 2. Construction was paid for with land grants 3.1876-1885 – Period of rapid expansion in Texas for railroads 4.1890 – the state had more than 8,000 miles of track 5.TX led the nation in railroad track construction

4. Railroads in Texas III. James Hogg 1.1 st governor of TX to be born in TX 2.He wanted to regulate railroad companies in TX a.He believed they were not following the laws of TX b.Wanted to bring them under gov’t control 3.Established the Railroad Commission in 1891 a.Fought unfair practices b.Established fair rates c.Encouraged competition

5. Railroads in Texas IV. Railroads Encourage Growth in TX 1.Early 1900’s – TX was shipping goods all over the US 2.Encouraged farmers to buy land for large, commercial farms 3.Farms sprang up along the railroad lines a.Farmers could ship their goods faster and more efficiently 4.Encouraged farmers to move to West TX